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The Ford factory in Southampton today. Chris Ison/PA Wire

Ford's British van factory set to close: reports

Around 500 jobs potentially at stake should the Southampton factory close.

FORD IS SET to close a factory in the English city of Southampton with the loss of 500 jobs in the latest European restructuring move after it shut down a plant in Belgium, reports said today.

Union officials said it was a “very worrying time” for the 500 employees at the site on the south coast of England, which has made around 2.2 million Transit vans since 1972.

The workforce has been reduced over the years, as production slumped from 66,000 vehicles in 2008 to 28,000 last year after the plant moved to single shift operation.

The US auto giant will reportedly announce the closure on Thursday, the day after it shut its factory in the Belgian city of Genk with the loss of 4,300 jobs.

Ford has not confirmed or denied the reports about the Southampton plant.

John Denham, who represents Southampton for the opposition Labour party, said it would be “devastating” if the factory shuts.

“Huge numbers of families would be affected. It would also be very bad for the UK motor industry,” he told the BBC.

“Obviously, we hope it’s not true but it would be devastating if it closed, there are hundreds of jobs that depend directly on the plant and many others in the local economy.

“Southampton is the only place that still makes complete Ford vehicles of any type in the UK.”

Ford employs around 11,400 workers in Britain at component plants including Dagenham in Essex in southeast England, Halewood on Merseyside in northwest England and Bridgend in south Wales.

- © AFP, 2012

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    May 27th 2016, 4:27 PM

    The old “i dont know what came over me” defence…

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    May 27th 2016, 4:16 PM

    She was a lovely women, god help anyone he didn’t like… Rot in hell..

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    May 27th 2016, 6:11 PM

    23 years is to0 little for this evil wretch

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    Mute Dawes30
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    May 28th 2016, 6:50 AM

    He got life with a minimum of 23 years so he got more than 23 years.

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    Mute Tony O' Leary
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    May 27th 2016, 9:28 PM

    Unless he’s was going through a psychotic episode they no he wouldn’t ..and trust me he wouldn’t be out in a year too ..he would still be in hospital for a very long time.

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    May 27th 2016, 9:30 PM

    That comment was for decky smith

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    May 28th 2016, 4:29 AM

    Too many west brits on here

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    May 28th 2016, 8:39 AM

    One too many nut cases on here Decky Smith

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 28th 2016, 9:21 AM

    How many is too many?

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    Mute decky smith
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    May 27th 2016, 6:55 PM

    If he was a brit he would have been sectioned,out in a year

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    May 27th 2016, 7:12 PM

    You are going to have to explain that one.

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    May 28th 2016, 4:26 AM

    Tony o’ if he was from an ethnic background he would clssed as a mental case,but hes a paddy life in jail,thats the way the brits work, catch up

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 28th 2016, 9:23 AM

    You mean they don’t let us paddies murder people over there? That’s discrimination, so it is.

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